KKB Spreads Terror Of Plane Burning, Perintis Airport In Papua Suggested To Be Closed Temporarily

JAKARTA - Military and intelligence observer Susaningtyas Nefo Handayani Kertopati advised the Indonesian National Police to close pioneering airports in the Papuan mountains to prevent repeated acts of security disturbance by the Armed Criminal Group (KKB)/Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST).

"It's a good idea to temporarily close the pioneering airports in the mountains which are the hotbeds of the KKB/KST," Nuning said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, February 8.

According to Nuning, this step is better than the TNI Polri immediately carrying out an integrated and informative joint operation after the burning of the Susi Air plane which was claimed to have been carried out by the KKB led by the Commander of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) OPM Ndugama Bridgen Egianus Kogeya (EK).

By closing these pioneering airports, she said, the government could build a bigger and stronger airport as a base for resistance and a logistics center for the TNI-Polri which would become difficult for the KKB to control.

"As a suggestion, should not be immediate, provide a joint TNI-Polri operation that is integrated and informative with each other," she said.

Another step, said Nuning, is that the TNI and POLRI can capture EK alive as soon as possible to dismantle the network he has.

KKB or KST is not the first time burning an airplane, this action has been repeated, so this action was carried out as a form of resistance by the group against the development and expansion of new regions (DOB) in Papua.

"It is most appropriate for EK to be caught alive so that the networks he has can be identified, including those from abroad," said Nuning.

Nuning said the security disturbances by the EK group this time indicated the continuation of their actions which were part of a declaration of war against all development, including the division of new autonomous regions and the addition of Kodim in the Papua region.

Other important things that security forces can do in anticipation of security disturbances by the KKB, said Nuning, are conducting dialogue with Papuan figures who are against the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"This step is to find out what the group wants, including finding out their opinion regarding the expansion of a new autonomous region in the Papua region. There is an opinion that this will be followed by new TNI Polri posts," said Nuning.

The next step is to conduct dialogue with those who are pro-NKRI, including dialogue with traditional groups, religious leaders, youth leaders and others.